I suffer from hepatic encephalopathy cirrhosis?

I had to have the emergency Warren shunt surgery done in 1996. 5 years ago I started having encephalopathy episodes. I've been on the transplant list 12 yrs now. Is transplant the only cure? I take Lactulose 6 x day.

Added 19 Oct 2014:

Oh I forgot I also have epilepsy due to a concussion in 1991. The medicine made the cirrhosis ALOT worse. The liver disease came from my grandma its genetic hereditary.

Responses (2)

They haven't come out with a way to heal the liver. Its something that is very much needed. I'm curious what will happen with stem cells, but that's a while off yet. Its awful your only choice now is all that lactulose, yuch. You could have a live donor, I wonder why its been so long for you on the transplant list.

Epilive, There are options. Has any of your family had themselves tested to where they can donate a lobe from their liver, to you?

Even being on the Transplant list, doesn't mean you get a full liver. They only take enough to allow it to grow healthy in your own body, after removing your own diseased liver. However, if your body is unable to help the re growth, the donated lobe will then become deseased as well, making the transplant worthless.

I am also sorry about the Lactolose that you have to take. I have to take it 4x's a day and frankly that stuff is nasty, but it does help maintain your Amonia levels, which as you know, can eventually put you in a coma.

I pray that you get the answers that you are seeking. I understand, completely. It is scary.

Last summer 2013 my neurologist told me I was only a 15 on the, meldscore I am a rare cause my illness is genetic so I need a transplant now. My hubby went to get tested right away. Then my daughter and niece. No one matched. Then in November my daughter's fiance asked if he could go get tested. 2 weeks later they.came over my daughter started cr**ying. I thought to myself "he didn't match " he said to my daughter " I'll tell them, you can't even talk. Dougie,husband, Nora,me. We are a match! I couldn't stop crying.